Government counsel, Ramesh Chandra said the court took “suo moto congnizance of media reports” on Mulayam’s statement during a function in Lucknow on August 18, where he had said that while one man commits rape, four more are named. “Kabhi aisa ho sakta hai kya? Aisa practical hi nahin hai. (Can such a thing happen? It is impractical),” Mulayam had said during the government function to distribute free e-rickshaws where Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was also present.

“The court found that a case against Mulayam could be made under IPC sections 116 (abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (statements conducting to public mischief) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and under Sections 3 and 4 of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986,” the government counsel said.

The court found Mulayam’s statement “insulting and provocative”, the government counsel said. It said, Indian law and Constitution accords high respect to women, but SP chief’s statement was totally against it. The court also said it was not possible to “feel the pain and insecurity” a rape victim or her family would have suffered due to such statement, the government counsel added.

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On Thursday, Samajwadi Party had issued a statement claiming that party chief’s remarks clearly meant that innocent persons should not be made an accused in a rape case.